Photo provided. The Ohio Department of Transportation will be widening the Interstate 70 overpass as well as adding additional lanes on Ohio 149, which goes under the overpass.

MORRISTOWN — The Ohio Department of Transportation is kicking off its multi-year Exit 208 interchange construction project.

The project includes widening the Interstate 70 overpass and adding additional lanes on State Route 149, which runs under the bridge.

The $27 million project is designed to support current and future traffic demands while improving safety and mobility for motorists. The project was awarded to Shelly & Sands Inc. in May 2025.

On Monday, nighttime work began with the contractor shifting traffic into new patterns for eastbound and westbound lanes. For I-70 eastbound contraflow, the left lane will cross into the westbound lanes, and the right lane will be shifted to the far right. The width restriction for eastbound traffic is 12 feet in each lane. Both westbound lanes will shift to the right, with an 11-foot width restriction.

“Over the last year, necessary utility relocation work has been underway in preparation for major construction,” according to an ODOT press release. “This week, the contractor will shift traffic during nighttime hours for the work zone setup to accommodate I-70 traffic during construction. Following the completion of that work, major construction will begin with demolition work on the bridge carrying I-70 over SR 149.”

The project will include widening and replacing the I-70 overpass bridges over State Route 149, widening State Route 149 to six lanes for improved traffic flow, resurfacing on- and off-ramps at the interchange and relocating Reco Drive to improve local access.

ODOT District 11 Public Information Officer Lauren Borell said major construction will begin soon on the SR 149 and I-70 project in Morristown.

“This project stems from continuing economic growth in the area, especially at that specific exit, which is Exit 208. And with that, we’ve had increased capacity or increased traffic due to that,” Borell said. “We are going to increase the capacity and safety through that interchange and what that will be once it’s complete, we will have six lanes across State Route 149 at the interchange to accommodate for that traffic. And of course, that will include the widening of the I-70 bridges over State Route 149.”

She added that traffic impacts will remain limited to I-70, with two lanes maintained in both directions.

“There won’t even be any lane closures associated with the project. They’ll maintain that traffic, of course, we’ll be slowing traffic down, as it will be an active work zone. And there will be some lane shifts with that,” Borell said. “In the future there will be short-term ramp closures. The on and off ramps at the interchange and Reco Drive will also have a short-term closure, but with that being said we will maintain traffic for the businesses that are located on Reco Drive.”

She added she does not anticipate traffic impacts on State Route 149 until 2027.

The completion date for the project is 2029.

Dates have yet to be announced for a temporary 21-day closure of I-70 eastbound and westbound ramps and Reco Drive. Mainline traffic will be maintained throughout construction through traffic shifts.

Borell said that during the construction, demolition and bridge replacement phases, two lanes of traffic will be maintained in both directions of I-70 at all times.